Hundreds more Gloucestershire children now receiving free school meals

Following the January 2026 school census, 591 additional children were registered for free school meals after the council introduced a system to identify and enrol pupils who were eligible but not claiming the support.

Free school meals help children concentrate in class and give families some relief from the cost of living, at a time when household costs remain high. For families, this can mean savings of almost £500 per child each year.

The approach also brings significant benefits for local schools. By increasing free school meal registrations, Gloucestershire schools are expected to receive around £1.6 million in additional education funding, including Pupil Premium, which helps schools support children who experience extra barriers to learning. Schools can expect to receive this funding in October 2027.

Free school meal auto‑enrolment works by using existing council data to identify children who are entitled to free school meals but are not currently registered. Families are informed and have the option to opt out. Fewer than one per cent of families chose to opt out, showing strong support for the approach across the county.

Gloucestershire County Council is one of the first two‑tier local authorities in the country to successfully introduce free school meal auto‑enrolment. Making this process standard practice supports the council’s aim of giving every child the best start in life, and helps to ensure children do not miss out on the meals they are entitled to.

Councillor Linda Cohen, Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “Every child deserves the chance to learn, grow and thrive, and provision of a healthy meal at school plays a vital part in that.

“By automatically enrolling children who are already entitled to free school meals, we are removing barriers for families and making sure support reaches those who need it most.

“This work is helping families save money, supporting children to do well at school, and securing vital funding for our schools. It is a practical example of how the county council is taking action to tackle inequality and support children and young people across Gloucestershire.”

Watch Cllr Linda Cohen talking about free school meal auto-enrolment here.